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Becoming A Member

There are four categories of membership.

The qualifying exam for ALTA membership eligibility is the Alliance National Exam. The Alliance For Accreditation and Certification of Multisensory Structured Language Education, Inc., (www.allianceaccreditation.org) is an organization sponsored by The International Dyslexia Association that promotes quality standards for professional preparation. It has funded the development of the new national registration exam and has charged ALTA with managing the administration of the exam. The exam measures an individual's knowledge of and skills in Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) and verifies that the individual has achieved the highest level of competency in the field of dyslexia education. Nine standards are evaluated on the exam:

• language development
• the structure of the language
• dyslexia, written language disorders, and other related disorders
• psycho-educational tests and informal assessments
• diagnostic and prescriptive MSL strategies to improve reading, spelling, and written expression
• relevant research in instructional practice
• 504 and IDEA laws which guide professional conduct and advocacy for students
• ethical standards of the profession
• awareness of effective professional written and oral communication with parents, colleagues, and other professionals.

The all-objective, pass-fail exam is untimed and requires about two hours to complete. It is offered at the therapy level after completion of 200 instructional hours and a 700-hour practicum in a course accredited by the International Multisensory Structure Language Education Council (IMSLEC), or a commensurate Orton-Gillingham-based course. At some locations, the exam is offered at the teacher level to individuals who have completed 45 instructional hours and a 90-hour practicum in an accredited IMSLEC course or a commensurate Orton-Gillingham-based course. The events calendar lists dates and locations for the administration of these exams.

Types of Membership:

There are four (4) categories of membership:

Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP)

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
2. Completion of teacher level training in a Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) program
   1. "Comprehensive teacher level training" shall be defined as a course under the supervision of a Instructor of Associate Academic Language Teacher that includes a minimum of 45 instructional hours, a minimum of 60 clinical/ teaching hours, a minimum of 5 demonstrations, clinical/teaching documentation, and proof of the individual's progress and competence.
   2. Acceptable performance on a teaching level comprehensive examination administered by ALTA.
   3. See Policies and Procedures for minimum requirements for Academic Language Therapist training programs and for qualified instructors.
3. Completion of three CEUs (30 contact hours) every three years.

(A Certified Academic Language Practitoner (CALP) is eligible to become a CALT upon fulfilling the requirements stated in Article III., Section 2., b.)
Click Here to Download the National Registration Application for Associate/Teacher Level

Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioner (ICALP)

Membership shall be open to individuals who have met the minimum guidelines for Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practioner as defined in Policies and Procedures.

Certified Academic Language Therapist Requirements (CALT)

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
2. Completion of comprehensive therapist training in a Multisensory Structured Language Education (MSLE) program.
   1. "Comprehensive therapist training" shall be defined as a course under the supervision of a Qualified Instructor that includes a minimum of 200 instructional hours, a minimum of 700 clinical/ teaching hours, a minimum of 10 demonstrations, clinical/teaching documentation, and proof of the therapist's progress and competency.
   2. See Policies and Procedures for minimum requirements for Academic Language Therapist training programs and for qualified instructors.
3. Acceptable performance on a comprehensive examination administered by ALTA.
4. Completion of three CEUs (30 contact hours) every three years.

Click Here to Download the National Registration Application for Therapist Level

Qualified Instructor (QI)

Qualified Instructor membership shall be open to individuals who have met the minimum guidelines for Academic Language Therapy Qualified Instructor as defined in Policies and Procedures.

Membership Renewal Policy

Dues notices are mailed the first of March and are due March 31st of each year. Dues that are not received by the end of a 90-day grace period (June 1) are subject to a 25% late fee. (Dues must be received July 15 in order for names to be included in the ALTA directory. Therapists who pay dues after the publication of the directory will be listed in newsletters during the year.)

Members who have not renewed their membership by the end of the 90-day grace period will be removed from all ALTA mailing lists until all late dues and fees have been paid.

Lapse of one year — If membership has been allowed to lapse for an entire year, that membership may be reinstated by paying the lapsed dues plus the current dues.

Lapse of two or more years — If membership has been allowed to lapse for two or more years, that membership may be reinstated through the following process: payment of Registration Examination fee, successful completion of the Registration Examination, and payment of current membership dues.

Additional questions may be addressed via the website , the Toll Free Helpline/Hopeline, 1-866-283-7133, or the ALTA National Office: 14070 Proton Road, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75244, 972-233-9107 x208, fax - 972-490-4219.